Light Pollution Control: Comparative Analysis of Regulations Across Civil and Common Law Jurisdictions
Chun Kit Law,
Savannah Yan Tsing Lai and
Joseph Hung Kit Lai ()
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Chun Kit Law: Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Savannah Yan Tsing Lai: School of Law, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Joseph Hung Kit Lai: Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Laws, 2024, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-19
Abstract:
Light pollution has become an increasingly knotty environmental management problem, but little has been done to review and compare light pollution controls across the world. To address this research gap, a comparative review study has been undertaken. Among the light pollution laws of the most light-polluted regions, those pertaining to Shanghai, New York, Hong Kong, Seoul, London and Valletta were examined. We systematically evaluate the impact of legal systems, regulatory approaches and control parameters on light pollution regulation. The findings reveal that civil law jurisdictions, such as Shanghai and Seoul, typically adopt dedicated legislation while common law jurisdictions, like New York and London, often rely on bolt-on regulations to broader environmental laws. The study also finds that jurisdictions employing dedicated legislation and a metrics-based system offer a more comprehensive and preemptive solution to light pollution challenges. However, certain exceptions are noted, and the balance between regulatory certainty and flexibility is highlighted. The nuanced relationship between environmental protection and legal instruments is discussed, and the potential for unintended consequences of stringent regulation is acknowledged. The paper closes with a call for ongoing research and iterative regulatory reviews, emphasizing the need to incorporate scientific advancements and stakeholder interests into regulatory updates.
Keywords: light pollution; environmental management; regulatory frameworks; comparative analysis; legislation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D78 E61 E62 F13 F42 F68 K0 K1 K2 K3 K4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlawss:v:13:y:2024:i:6:p:74-:d:1532735
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